This moment is a wonderful yet sad one. I am sitting on a sidewalk approximately 5 miles across the water from the shuttle Atlantis launch pad with about 1 million other viewers, 5 hours and 20 minutes away from take off. It's all quite surreal, not just because we are here witnessing history but also because I am killing the time by writing this blog from Virginia's iPad. It's really quite amazing that I am watching the indefinite end of our most innovative technology while using another technological medium. It's an ironic and sad moment for me and US history.
What I don't understand is how we can cut the space program as dramatically as we are. Technology will always, ALWAYS be the future! There will never be anything else driving our society forward and so, I am offering my dissenting opinion. I understand that everyone needs to cut back in these economic times but I also wonder what I am supposed to tell my students (at my creative science-themed magnet school) who want to be astronauts when they grow up. Not to mention the fact that paying the Russians 100 million dollars to transport our American astronauts to the ISS is utterly humiliating. Keep it up, America! Keep cutting science and technology and education! That's definitely the way to make sure this nation stays great; by killing its every possibility for advancement.
Now that that's out of the way. How is Steph doing? Steph's doing...well rather grumpy actually. She growled at us several times this morning when we awoke her at 2AM to leave Tampa for the launch and then has hissed at us every 15 minutes or so since. I don't blame her. None of us has slept and by us I mean Rich's brother, Ryan who flew in from Long Island for this launch, Virginia, fresh in from CT, Rich, Steph, and me.
Yesterday was an awful food day for me and I am still depressed about it. Breakfast started off okay but then we went to Cigar City Brewery for a tour and they force fed me beer which clouded my judgement, ending with me downing a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake from Frankie's. I drank a sangria at poker and then to top it all off, we ordered pizza around midnight. Just wonderful. Oh and did I mentioned that I haven't seriously worked out in 3 days? I cant believe Steph has let me get away with this!
But the hardest lesson I have learned is that it does no good to beat yourself up. Track what you have eaten (even if your daily total is 20 points over) and move on. Today is a new day and well-intentioned. I packed fruit, hummus, pretzels, and turkey sandwiches for the launch. Evil Virginia tempted me with Krispy Kreme donuts at the gas station several times but I resisted temptation! Don't let me forget to give Steph credit for her amazing will power. It must have been very difficult for her to say "no" whilst passed out in the front seat and drooling on herself. Great job, Steph! Keep up the great work!
Okay, I am exhausted and have to reserve enough energy to lift my eyelids for the 3 second launch. Oh and by the way, I don't know how these situations keep finding me, but just as I finished writing about my healthy snacks for today, a hot dog cart appeared out of no where and set up camp directly to my right. As in, I am touching the cart with my elbow right now. Wonderful.
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